Nut-lock.



No. 638,078. Patented Nov. 28, I899.

E. J. TIMMONS.

NUT LUCK.

(Application filed Apr. 8, 1899.)

(No Model.)

'ii l ilil'nm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER J. TIMMoNs, or CINCINNATI, 01110.

NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 638,078, dated.November 28, 1899.

Application filed April 8, 1899. Serial No. 712,228. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELMER J. TIMMONS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, in the county ofHamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Nut-Locks; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to thefigures and letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in nut-locks, and has forits object to provide a device of this character of a simple andinexpensive nature and of a construction adapted to permit of readilylooking or releasing the nut, so as to hold the nut securely againstaccidentaldisplacement, while permitting it to be removed at will.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction,combination, and arrangement of theseveral parts of the improvednut-lock, whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice is made simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted and moreconvenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate my invention,Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a rail-joint, showing theimproved nut-lock applied thereto; and Fig. 2 is a sectional View takenhorizontally through the joint in the plane indicated by the line a a inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken transverselythrough the rail-joint in the plane indicated by the line b b in Fig. 1.Fig. 4 is a detached and enlarged perspective view showing thelocking-plate seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. mentary sectional view somewhatsimilar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modified form of the nut-lock.Fig. 6 is an edge view showing, de-

tached, a plain washer and a spring-washer adapted for use in connectionwith the improved nut-lock.

In the views, 1 indicates the rail ends at the joint, and 2 2 indicatethe fish-plates lap- Fig. 5 is a frag-' ping the joint on opposite sidesof the rail ends, said fish-plates having angular flanges 3 extendingout from their lower parts in position to overlie the flanges of therail ends, as shown in Fig. 1.

4 indicates the bolt passed through the rail end and fish-plates at thejoint, said bolt being provided with a nut 5, screwed on it to hold theparts together.

6 indicates the locking-plate formed of a piece of fiat or sheet metalhaving an opening 7 for the passage of the bolt 4:, on which the plateis held after the fashion of a washer between the fish-plate 2 and thenut 5. The locking-plate 6 is also formed with a straight lower edge 8for engagement with the fishplate flange 3 to hold said plate 6 against'turning, so that loosening of the nut when locked, due to said turningmovement of the locking-plate, is prevented. The plate 6 is constructedwith an extension or wing 9 projecting from its side, as shown in Fig.4, said extension or wing having its upper part 12 separated from thebody portion of the plate, wherein is formed the opening 7 bya slottedopening 10, extending down from the upper edge of the locking-plate. Thewing or extension 9 of the locking-plate is also formed at its edge witha projecting portion 11, bent at substantiallya right angle and adaptedfor engagement with the outer face of the fishplate in such away as tohold the wing or extension 9 away from said fish-plate, as indicated aty in Figs. 2 and 5. The flange 11 does not extend entirely up the edgeof thewing or extension 9, but is located onlyat the lower part thereof,as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Said flange also acts by engagement with thefishplate 2 to prevent the wing or extension 9 from being accidentallybent back, so as to render the part 12 inoperative for holding the nut 5against turning movement.

In connection with the improved nut-lock spring or other washers, suchas are ordinarily employed in railway work, may be used, as shown inFigs. 1, 2, and 3, wherein 13 indicates the washer, which may be a plainone or a spring-washer 13 of the form shown in detail in Fig. 6. Thewasher when thus employed is held on the bolt 4, between the fish;-plate 2 and the locking-plate 6, and acts to hold the body portion ofthe said plate 6 suf ficiently spaced apart from the fish-plate topermit the ready introduction of a tool for bending the part 12 of thewing in engagement with the nut.

In use the locking-plate 6 is applied to the bolt 4 outside of thewasher 13,With its straight edge 8 resting against the fish-plate flange3, as shown in Fig. 1, and its angular flange 11 against the face of thefish-plate. The nut is then applied and screwed home on the bolt, saidnut upon engagement with the body portion of the locking plate 6 servingto clamp the plate firmly between itself and the washer 13,with theextension or wing 9 spaced apart from the surface of the fish-plate byreason of the engagement of the flange ll therewith. The upper part 12of the wing or extension 9 of the locking-plate is then bent outwardly,so as to stand at preferably an acute angle to the lower portion of thewing or extension 9, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, said part 12when so bent engaging the fiattened side of the nut 5 in such a manneras to hold the same securely against turning movement on the bolt. Thebending of the part 12 of the wing or extension of the locking-plate maybe accomplished by the use of any suitable pointed tool,(indicated indotted lines at X in Fig. 3,) and adapted forinsertion between thefish-plate and the wing or extension 9 of the locking-plate and capableof being swung in the direction indicated by arrow 00 for bending saidpart 12 into locking position.

. In this manner it will be seen that the nut shown in Fig. 5, the bodyportion of the locking-plate 6 will be pressed flush against the surfaceof the fish-plate, while the wing 9 will be bent at an angle to saidbody portion by the engagement of its flange 11 with the fishplate, soas to hold the upper part 12 of said wing or extension spaced apart fromthe fishplate surface, as indicated at y, to permit the introduction ofthe tool for bending said part 12.

The improved nu t-lock constructed according to my invention is of anextremely simple and inexpensive nature and is especially well adaptedfor use either in connection with railway or other Work, and it willalso be obvious from the above description that the device is capable ofsome modification without material departure from the principles andspirit of the invention, and for this reason I do not Wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the precise form and arrangement of theseveral parts herein set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a nut-lock, thecombination of a bolt, a nut screwed thereon and a locking-platecomprising a body perforated for the passage of the bolt and a winghaving at one side a flange adapted for contact with the part throughwhich the bolt is passed to hold the locking-plate spaced away from suchpart and provided at the same side with a portion adapted to be bent inposition to engage the side of the nut to hold the same against turningmovement, substantially as set forth.

2. In a nut-lock, the combination of a bolt, a nut screwed thereon, awasher on said bolt between the part through which the bolt is passedand the nut, and a locking-plate comprising a body perforated for thepassage of the bolt and held thereon between the washer and nut, andawing having a flange for contact with the part through which the boltis passed for holding said part and the wing spaced away from eachother, said wing being provided with a portion adapted to be bent inposition to engage the flat side of the nut to hold the same againstturning, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER J. TIMMONS. Witnesses:

JOHN ELIAS J ONES, L. M. J ONES.

